Jesus Is the Head of the Body

Jesus Is the Head of the Body

Jesus has put servants in the church so that the saints might be made perfect for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

“But, [that we] speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ . . . .”

This proves that all of us need the Head as our example. We all must follow in His steps. We all must grow up to the Head. The condition for growth is a love of the truth. However, this does not mean that a person cannot fail even though he was placed in the church. This is evident from the seven letters in Revelation. There we see that the angel of the church had failed; nevertheless, there were some who had grown up to be examples for all the others. This shows that each one is responsible for loving the truth and following in Jesus’ steps.

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12. There we can see that we cannot take anyone along whom we can blame, and who can change the judgment. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Heb. 4:13.

There are many people who have the feeling that they do not have the fellowship they should have. Consequently, they think that it is the others’ fault. That is where they are wrong. They do not understand that they need to have better contact with the Head. Others, again, think that they are not given the ministry they would like to have, and so they blame the others. They forget that the Head apportions the ministries to each one in particular. Such people have not understood that they have too little contact with the Head. This is where the servants come in—the ones who are to help the saints to be made perfect for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. You who believe that you are a servant, can you see your responsibility?

“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Gal. 5:26. When you notice that someone envies you, you can make a serious speech about envy and its dangers. It can be very true and right. However, are you one of those servants who was to help the other one to be made perfect for the work of ministry? Perhaps you provoked him instead of helping him. Of course, the one who is provoked to envy has little understanding of the way of salvation. But think! If only you could have helped him! Then you would have had to take heed to yourself and to the doctrine so you could be saved from provoking him, helping him instead. Perhaps you get up and speak so often because of your boldness that the one who is less bold does not get an opportunity to get up. Perhaps you should pray for more wisdom and insight when it comes to serving? Col. 2:2-3.

What does it mean to grow up in all things into Him who is the Head? It means that we increase in all the virtues. We read about that in connection with partaking of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue . . . .” V. 5. The fact that we increase in the virtues proves that we are not unfruitful in the knowledge concerning our Lord Jesus Christ; through the virtues we will have an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If those who are servants and those who are being served keep that in mind, they will all come into better contact with the Head of the body. No one can hinder us from being saved, and we have to give an account to God alone. The solution for all of us is to humble ourselves—the very thing in which Jesus is our forerunner. All difficulties are a result of being driven by the spirit of Antichrist—the one who exalted himself. Thanks be to God who has revealed this to us!